To be alarmed at Starmers plans

Worth a quick read of the report quoted by the BBC. The immigration of millionaires into UK has been slowing since Brexit and those leaving appear to be non-Brits. Of course, taxing them will make UK seem unattractive compared with other countries. But in all likelihood they move between properties globally, anyway. The report adds that the centi-millionaires (worth more than $100m) are moving out of cities to the country. So they aren't all leaving.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1we3re197po

So apparently the number of millionaires leaving the country has increased 157% in 2024 vs. 2023 and Reeves is moving to a "more generous phase out of tax benefits for non doms".

So the plan tax the rich and they are going to pay for everything.

That worked well then.

As I have maintained before, the middle class/working people are the only group from which significant taxes can be raised. The wealthy avoid them. The poor have no money to pay.

Thirded. Fingers crossed for your DS @amigafan2003 . Living in Devon we know several ex Royal Marines, including FIL.

A Ukrainian here. Actually, it was completely unprovoked. Until 2014 we lived peacefully and minded our own business. All we wanted was more European integration and to move away from Russia. Clearly, that pissed Putin off, so he decided to invade the east and annex Crimea, both in violation of any kind of international law and in breach of the Budapest memorandum signed by Russia US and UK in 1994. (For the record, Ukraine had no intention to join NATO before Russia's first invasion in 2014) The west was "deeply concerned" for 8 years until the full scale invasion in 2022 and continued to fill Putin's coffers with gas ans oil money. Unfortunately, Ukraine can't win this war on its own, Russia's too big and armed to its teeth. But if the world stops supporting Ukraine it'll cease to exist and Russia will pose an even bigger threat to the rest of Europe as a result.

Seconded. Good luck to your DC @amigafan2003

That’s a very tough selection process. I hope it goes well for him.

@FOJN Scott Horton's new book traces the history of this conflict back to 1990 and the promises made when Germany was reunified. It's a fascinating, well referenced read if a bit hefty. 😀

I have read quite a lot about this topic, and I must say I am quite stunned that so many people so easily refer to the likes of Professors Sachs, Meirsheimer, Cohen and many others as either conspiracy theorists, Kremlin's agents, Putin's apologists or some other derogatory names of that sort despite the fact that most of them have no evidence whatsoever of any of those professors spouting any so called conspiracy theories prior to Feb 2022. Interestingly, the same people never call the likes of Piers Morgan, any of the MSM or anyone else who only wishes to see one side of the story NATO apologists, CIA agents or war mongers despite the fact that those " news sources" lied to us extensively about Vietnam, Afganistan, Syria, Iraq etc. and there should as a minimum be at least some doubt as to whether or not they are now telling us the truth (never mind the full truth!) about Ukraine.

Scott Horton's book you mentioned in your reply is next on my reading list and I am convinced that it will only reinforce my opinion on the Ukraine conflict.

Thank you for your response. I am glad to have come across someone, who is open to considering the other side of the story without gaslighting the professors, who clearly devoted their lifetime to research and extensive study of the subject that so many of us don't even spend even an hour per week on in order to feel sufficiently qualified to argue with them.

Is he sending them to operate missiles OP ?

I don't think we would need to worry unless Russia was actually invaded

"other lefty MNetters who think it’s “about time” we got more involved and sent working class people’s thick kids (not your uni darlings) off into a war zone."

If that was directed at me, my eldest has their fitness test for the Marines tomorrow...........

Thank you. 100% this.

I wouldn't hold my breath. He fills me with ZERO confidence!

Well, let's thank the gods that governing is no longer the popularity contest like it was during 14 years of Tory rule. Maybe we'll see actual real, meaningful change this time round.

Many would argue he isn't 'doing both' effectively, which is why his popularity has taken a nosedive...

He can do both - that's why the UK has a cabinet with portfolios for ministers.

The only thing it's 'about time Starmer did', is to focus on what's happening/needs to happen in the UK.

@Hwi Why do you think the army would
Want the children of politicians

Unless they're also in the army

How silly

It's always a little surprising when people who voluntarily join the armed forces are shocked when it's suggested they might be expected to fight.

This was your original post. I read it the same way everyone else did.

I wonder if the OP will return?

We're talking about Ukraine, right?

@Adamante "How many armed forces people do you actually know? How many times have you come across this? You say “always” as though it’s something you’ve commonly experienced. I’d be surprised, because I know and have known 100s and not one of them as ever been “shocked” when they’ve received orders to go on active service"

You might want to read my post again. I said it's "always surprising when people [like several posters on here] are shocked" not that "service people are shocked".

The spacing on bots won’t help, mnhq don’t scan threads with tech they read them when they need to

Ridiculous scare mongering misinformation thread.

On Ukraine more widely:
If there is an end negotiated then it is surely better to negotiate from a place of strength rather than weakness. If we capitulate to Russia then Estonia, Finland, Moldova and lots of other countries suddenly look attractive to Putin to either invade or put entirely in his sphere of influence. One of the few things I actually think Trump has right is that NATO countries need to step up their defence spending. The west needs to stand strong here.

And the Kremlin apologists can get in the bin. Either you are b o t s or you are very useful idiots.

There’s only three posts in that train of conversation

It’s easy to follow